Typewriting machine



May 17 1927.

' B. C. STICKNEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1924 Patented May'` 17, 1927. A

oFFiE.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY, OF RUTHERFORD, JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO 'UNDERWOOD l TYPEWRITER COIUIIIEANY,v OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

'.LYPEWBITING MACHIN E.

` Application filed Hay 3,

This invention relates to the revolublev platens of typewriting machines, in which type-bars swing against the work-sheet l placed upon the platen. One of the objects of the invention is to improve the construction of the laten, with a view to securing clearness of t e type-impressions, and with a view to reducing the noise of the type blows upon the work-sheet,

and also to enable clear impressions to be made by light iinger strokes upon the keys.

Another feature of `the invention is that it is rendered practicable to eliminate the noisy and otherwise objectionable anvil, abutment or stop-ring against which it has long been the practice for the type-bars to strike in Underwood and other machines, said anvil or stop-ring being usually placed near the pivots of the type-bars and being struck by the type-bars when the latter approach printing positions. The type-*bars then usually spring until the types strike Athe worksheet, as disclosedin the Manning Patent N o. 612,858, dated October 25, 1898. i

26 Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. y v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on an en larged scale of one form of revoluble platen embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view to illustrate the manner of supporting the platen-body upon a platen-axle.

Figure 3 is a diagram to illustrate one kind of joint or seam for the outer covering or skin of the platen.

v Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the Atype-bar system and segment of the Underwood typewriting machine, showing the improved platen. 4At this figure there is also shown an improved manner of supporting the hub ends of the detachable type-bars against shaking when in printing positions.

Figure 5 is .adiagram of the platen, showing one manner of Winding an outside skin or layer thereon.

The weighted body of the platen is preferabl in `the form of a length of heavy, plastic metal tube 10, the wall of which may 5o be about 1/8 of an inch thick; and the diameter of the lpipe or tube may be nearly the full diameter of the finished platen.

This body may consist of a length or section of commercial lead pipe, such as ordi- 1924. serial No. 710,768. j

narily used by plumbers and others. The llength of the lead body may equal the length of the platen; and it may be supported at its ends upon soft rubber ends, 'bushings or disks 11, so as to prevent transmission of noise vibrations from the lead .body to the platen-axle 14. yThese soft rubber ends or heads may be itted upon bosses or hubs 12, secured by screws 13 upon the platen-axle 14. In order to lock the platen and the axle for rotation together, spurs or teeth 15 may radiate from the bosses into radial holes 16 in the soft rubber ends 11, so that said ends must rotate with the bosses or hubs 12. From the soft rubber ends may project integral soft rubber hobs or teeth 17, to lit into notches 18 Acut in the ends of the lead body.v The latter is thus lirmly supported upon the platen-axle and the latter' is enabled to drive the laten.

The ru ber platen ends may also be perforated at 19 to make a more springy support for the platen-body, thus conducing further to quietness of operation; the weight and inertia of the platen making a rigid support unnecessa One of the chlef characteristics of the lead bodyis its weight, so that the -lead ypipe becomes something having the nature of an anvil, to coact with the ty es to produce the impressions upon the wor -sheet. The type delivers a quick blow upon the paper, and the blow is resisted by the lead bod because of its relatively great weight an inertia. The excellence of this backing is 4derived partly from its uality of withstanding the sharp blows of t e type. The speed of the type is so great that'the lead body cannot be started so quickly into bodily motion, and hence it does not yield under the blows. In other words, the inertia of the heavy platen is an element in producing the. necessary resistance to the type blows, so that the paper and ribbon upon one side are subjected to hard blows, and upon the other side meet with a resisting body, thus enabling heavy impressions to be made upon the paper by light key strokes, thereby conducing to ease of operation, aswell as quietness. f

Moreover, the lead itself is not only heavy,

but has such a plastic nature as to make it practically a perfect medium for serving as a vbacking for the sheet when receiving tne i bon 20 upon lthe paper.

type-impressions. The substantial inelasticity of the lead, combined with its plastic or semi-plastic quality, makes it an excellent device or contributory element for securing clear type-impressions through theink .ribn

Another feature of the invention is that -bythe use of alead tubular body, the noise impressions; the rub paper layer' (hereinafter mentioned) p form? form of'rubber of small diameter or undersized, and are' stretched out and placed side'by-` side at 21?l lso winding thereover" several layers of thinv manila paper 23 orother extremely toughy of the type blows is remarkably reduced,

while conferring the advantages above inen-l tioned. Y

While in some cases the lead body'may be lined with a thin shell of steel, brass or the like to give rigidity, still for general use the lead body may be unp'rovided with such' this is not o jectionable in practice'. Upon the lead body there is preferably.

stretched one or more windings of thin highly elastic soft rubber sheeting 21, which .may be wound from a web whose width equals the length of the platen. This may;

consist of one or more layers of dental rubber, and is preferably permanentlyV under high4 tension, so as to provide a rather hard wrapping, which nevertheless is` highly elastic. -This elastic rubber layer is an excellent contributory element for aiding the lead body in securing) sharpnessof the typeer, with its overwound ing an excellent combination for this purpose; and the rubber also aids in protectin the lead from being dented by the typy blows.k Moreover the rubber layer conduces to quietness of operation. `v

The rubber layer or jacket may be in the. ands, which are originally upon the lead body, to form the rubber layer.v

The impression-clearing quality of theY rubber layer may be well brought 'out by v paper. The rubber backing 21 under said paper layers makes a combination` which' gives remarkable clearness of printin especially when backed up by the lead bo y 10. The paper may be wound tightly, and secured by cement.

To completethe platen there is'preferabl used a protective skin or layer oftoner material, which may be for'example in vthe nature of gold-beaters skin; `or gut may be used. It preferably consists of a hard, tough quality of kangaroo skin, which is a well-'known tanned article of commerce, and

is commonly used in making kid Vshoes and various other articles. Its toughness gives it the requisite durability, and enables it t0 withstand the blows ofv the types indefinitely. While it is not cut by the types, it is sufliciently flexible to make an excellent backing for the sheet, and conduces to quietness of operation, and aids eciently in rendering the type-impressions clear.`

The kangaroo skin, the paper and the rubber inl combination have the effect of sub* stanti allypreventing indentation of the lead by the types, especially when the keys are struck lightly.v It is one of the advantages of the invention that light blows of the types make clearly-inked type-impressions, whereby quietness as well as ease of operationis attained. The` use of this platen, on account of its excellent impression qualities, permits the use of a light or reduced-width type-bai' as seen at 24,' conducing to ease of key touch. The thin rubber sheeting may be interwouiid with single or doubled (two-ply) windings of paper, if desired, to make up a combined rubber and paper element.

'lhus it will be seen that there is a resisting but highly elastic and impression-clearing layer, whose qualities'aie well developed windings of paper, preferbythe overlyineably tough and thin, while the Apaper is protected by the tough leather or skin facing, and the three elements together pro.

tect the lead from hammering of the types,

without impairing the efficiency of the lead in securing quietness ot work and clearness `of type-impressions. n

The windine` of highly tensioned rubbersheeting, which may be two or three layers j v( or the rubber bands),

'1/64. of an inch more or 'maybe increased ,in some cases to 1/32 of inay amount to about less', although this an inch.. The winding of -tensionedpaper may comprise three to six layers of thin manila oi other very tough paper, these paper windings famountinr'to about 1/100- of o n inch more or less; fa lthough this 'may be increased .in somecases. 'The facing ot kangaroo skin (or other leather or the like) vmaybe about 1/64 of an inch thick, or in some cases 1/32 or somewhat more, depending partly upon its softness or hardness, and partly upon the number of' carbon copies which it is desired toV make. 1 If gold-beaters skin.- or gut is used, 'there may be several windings, all of which may be under tension;

and such windings may aggregate 1/64 t0 1/32 of an inchvin thickness. vThe external diameter `ofthe platen is about 1% inches.v

'A platen comprising the'L tubular. lead body, the thin tight layer of soft rubber thereon, the tight winding of thin tough paper. 4,and the covering of hard flexible material, such as the kangaroo skin, forms a platen excellent in the many ways above Cal noted,-while the general result is enhanced by the soft-rubber support of the same upon the platen axle. i

Another feature of the lead body, especially when provided` with the4J wrappings herein set forth, is that the action of the types upon the paper is substantially improved from their action in machines hav- .ing platens of the standard type, namely, shells of a tough compound of graphite, earth and rubber mounted upon wooden cores. As set forth in said Manning patent, the type-impressions upon such platens are not good, andl it has always been supposed 'that the trouble arose. from the weakness and springiness of the type-bars. It has, however, been demonstrated that the abutment or stop-ring 'shown in the `Manning patent can be omitted, and perfect typeinpressions produced, by-the use of the tubular, or hollow ,lead body, and without developing any of the faults which are set forth in said Manning patent, 'such as rapid wear of the types, and blurring or doubllng of the type-impressions. The lead body cooperates with the steel typesand the springy type-barslin a perfect manner, producin excellent impressions, so that the noise, o the types striking the Manningstop is entirely eliminated, While the noise of the types striking the paper and'platen is reduced practically to a negligible point. The type-bars may be .made more narrow than usual, the original width being. shown in dottedv lineat 25, vFigure 4. There is not only avoided thenoise of the ty e-bars strikin the usualfabutment'26, but t ere is also e ected a substantial economyin the construction, assemblage and aligning of -the type-bars in the machine. There is eliminated the noise of the type-bars strik- \ing the usual stop-ring 26, and-moreover the noise of the types striking the Work-sheet is substantially. reduced from the usual practice.

f Another feature of improvement relates to the securing of detachable type-bars 24 in the machine in such a manner as to .prevent shakeof the type-bars at their pivots when they' are in prlnting positions.

. When the type-bar 24 is in printing posi? tion, -the open slot 27 in the hub of the typebar 1s in horizontal position, thus givingA opportunityfor the type-bar to jar rearwardly at its lower end when in` printing position. To 'minimize 'such' undesirable play of the hub end of thetype-bar, there may be provided :a curved or segmental rigid guard or bearing 28, which is detachably secured by screws 29 upon a segmental boss 30 provided upon the rear side of the type-bar segment 31. Whenever it is dev sired to take out a type-bar, said locking segment 28 may be detached, then the typebar may be taken out and another one substituted, wherepon the locking segment 28 may be return to position. The exterior contour of the hooked pivoted portion 32 of the type-bar may be concentric with` the type-bar pivot, and said contour may y bear against the segment 28, so that objectionable shake of the type-bar at its pivot may be precluded at the -instant of printing.

The paper windings may be omitted or other material substituted therefor in some cases, and other kinds of facing may be used` for some purposes. The facing may be of tight helical windings 33 of strips of kangaroo skinv or other thin, tough,hard, flexible material, Figure 5. At Figure 3 is illustrated a sheet of kangaroo skin Wrapped around the platen to form a durable facing therefor, the meetg edges of the wrapping being .dovetailed together at 34.

Variations may be'resorted-to within the scope of the invention, and. portions o f the im rovements may be used without others.

. laving thusv described my invention, I claim:

l. A cylindrical typewriter platen comprising a weighted self-sustaining tubular soft metal body, means for cushioning said body directly upon the platen axle, and a flexible durable covering for said body, said body being nearly the full diameter ofthe iinished platen.

2. A platen comprising a length of solid self-sustaining lead tube, Soft rubber ends to support it directly upon the platen axle, and .a protective flexible sound-dulling impression-clearing covering upon said tube.

3.`A laten comprising a length of lead tube, so rubber endsto support it upon the platen axle, a protective flexible sounddulhng, impression-clearing covering upon said tube, bosses for the axle, said bosses having means to interlock with said ends, and means to connect the ends rotatively with the lead tube, said connecting means comprising rubber hobs upon the ends to interlock with notches in the ends of the lead tube.

4.- A platen comprising a length of lead tube, soft rubber ends to support it upon the platen axle, anda protective flexible sound-dullin impression-clearing covering upon said tu e, said soft rubber platen ends being provided with perforations to conduce to the sound-deadening quality thereof. 5. A platen comprising a length of solid lead tube, soft rubber ends to support it 'upon the platen axle, and a protective iex ible sound-dulling, impression-clearing cov 'ering upon said tube, said lead tube of ,suliicient weight to coact withthe types to produce the required impressions upon the tube self-sustaining under the type blows,`

a yielding support for said tube, and a. wear- Vresisting sound-dulling facing for said tube.

7. A sound-dullng platen comprising a self-sustaining solid lead tube or pipe, soft cushioning means to support the same upon the platen axle, and a sound-dulling facing upon said tube to, take the wear of the type, said tube being Weighted or sufliciently heavy to be self-sustaining under the type blows and to serve bv reason of its inertia-to afford ample support for the vwork-sheet at the type blows, and being unprovided with a rigid internal supportingshell, and being bendable by the application of moderate force thereto.

8. A platen comprising a solid leadtube to form a weight substantially sufficient to withstand the blows ofthe types,'a layer of thin highly-elastic soft rubber thereon, and' a durable facing for said rubber.

9. A platen comprising a. solid lead tube,

, cushioning means to support the same upon the platen axle, a highly' tensioned windingv of thin highly-elasti'csdental rubber on said tube, and a flexible durable facing upon said rubber. l

10. A non-resonant platen provided with an axle and comprising a thick heavy body of solid lead tube or pipe. cushioning meanssupporting it uponthe platen axle, a soft rubber layer upon said tube, and a durable flexible facing harder than the rubber.

f 11. A-noise-dulling platen comprising a heavy lead pipe, cushions supporting the same, andan external layer upon the pipe 35v comprising soft rubber, tough paper Wound upon s'aid rubber layer,'and a protective facing for said paper.

12. A platen comprising a heavy lead body, a winding of soft rubber thereon, .and 40 l aproteotive covering ot, kangaroo skin.

13. A sound-subduing platen comprisingm a-lead tube orpipe forming a body, and means for preventing indentation of the lead by the types, comprising layers of rubber 45v4 'i paper and kangaroo skin.

14. A platen comprising a lead tube, cushioning means to support the same uponthe platen axle, a tensioned winding of' thin highly-elastic dental rubber on said platen, 50

tube, and a highly-elastic andv impression- 55 clearing layer thereon` comprising windings of rubber, paper and leather or skin facing'.

16. A platen comprising a tubular* lead body, a. thin tight layer of softrubber thereon, a tight winding of thin tough` paper on'o the rubber, and a covering of hard fiexible material.

BURNHAM o. srICKNEY. 

